Books with author Danielle Smith-Llera

Take a trip to the West! Each page is filled with exciting facts about this part of the United States, including its history, rich culture, geography, major cities, and everyday life. Buckle up as you read about and see pictures of this part of our fascinating country. Includes Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho , Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

George Washington knew he was setting an example in everything he did. The first American president had been a heroic military commander during the Revolutionary War, leading his forces to victory. As president he would guide the citizens of a new republic with a strong central government. No more would each state make its own decisions. Instead, they would band together, with the beloved Washington leading the way. It was up to him not to abuse the power of his mighty position.

What has been called the most famous photograph in the world, and a symbol of the 20th century, began as a spur of the moment snapshot by a Cuban photographer. Alberto Korda transformed a simple photo into a world famous portrait of a larger than life revolutionary. Korda’s 1960 photo of Che Guevara’s defiant face has traveled the world in many forms. It shows up wherever people struggle for freedom and human rights. And in the 21st century, the controversial photo continues to inspire, entertain, and even infuriate.

Millions of tons of plastic slip into oceans every year. Some floats and travels slowly with the currents, endangering the health of marine animals. The rest is hardly visible but is far more dangerous. Tiny bits of plastic sprinkle the ocean's surface or mix into the sandy seafloor and beaches. It ends up inside birds, fish, and other animals, harming them-and ultimately humans. Experts struggle with fear and hope as they work to stop the flood of plastic threatening living organisms across the globe.

On-point historical photographs combined with strong narration bring the story of the civil rights marches to life. Kids will learn about the way in which Southern states kept African Americans from voting and the history that led to nonviolent civil rights marches to fight for the right to vote guaranteed by the Constitution. As an added bonus, readers will learn about how this played out on TV and galvanized the civil rights movement, leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Seeing the brutality on TV turned the fight for voting rights in the South into a national cause. Accompanying video will show readers what viewers saw at the time.

Hate crime in the United States is on the rise. The FBI has reported that hate crimes rose by 17 percent in 2017, increasing for the third straight year, and the trend continued into 2018 and 2019. The crimes are most commonly motivated by hatred related to race, ethnicity, or country of origin. Many crimes are also motivated by bias against sexual orientation or gender identity. Students will learn why hate crime is on the rise and how they can help combat it.

Imagine leaving your home and moving across the country to a new life on the unknown frontier. That’s exactly what members of the Donner Party were trying to do in the mid-1800s when they traveled out west, chasing their dreams of a better life. But instead, many were destined to meet a cruel fate. Lively language, historical illustrations, and primary source journal entries from members of the Donner Party help readers feel as if they were a part of the journey. Meets Common Core critical thinking standards, and provides strong ties to social studies standards on westward expansion.

On-point historical photographs combined with strong narration bring the story of the Berlin Wall to life. Kids will learn about the partition of Berlin after WWII, the cold war tensions between the US and the USSR that led to the building of the wall, and the anti-communist pressures that led it to fall. The fall of the wall would become a symbol of democracy and freedom. Readers will understand the significance behind this event through text and clips of the event itself via the Capstone 4D augmented reality app.